Search results for "Animal Science and Zoology"
showing 10 items of 2095 documents
Production of volatile compounds in model milk and cheese media by eight strains of Geotrichum candidum Link
1994
SummaryEight strains of Geotrichum candidum isolated from cheese were compared for aroma production. Twenty-four components, including alcohols, methyl ketones, fatty acids and esters, were identified by gas–liquid chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry of the volatile compounds produced by G. candidum cultures. Strains could be differentiated by their ability to produce dimethyldisulphide, phenol, phenylethanol and methyl ketones.
A STUDY ON THE POSSIBLE EFFECT OF TWO CRAYFISH SPECIES ON EPILITHIC ALGAE IN A MOUNTAIN STREAM FROM CENTRAL SPAIN
2006
The effects on epilithic algae of increasing densities of two crayfish species, Austropotamobius italicus and Pacifastacus leniusculus, the latter recently introduced in Spain, have been monitored using riverine enclosures, within a large experimental study on crayfish-macrobenthos interactions in a mountain stream. A 3-month test was carried out for each species using crayfish densities comprising between 0-5 individuals/m2 kept in 1-m2 enclosures. Epilithon was sampled periodically within the enclosures and chlorophyll a, b and c were measured by spectrophotometry. Neither statistically significant positive nor negative effects were observed on algal abundance (Chl concentrations) during …
Genome-wide detection of copy-number variations in local cattle breeds
2019
The aim of the present study was to identify copy-number variations (CNVs) in Cinisara (CIN) and Modicana (MOD) cattle breeds on the basis of signal intensity (logR ratio) and B allele frequency of each marker, using Illumina’s BovineSNP50K Genotyping BeadChip. The CNVs were detected with the PennCNV and SVS 8.7.0 software and were aggregated into CNV regions (CNVRs). PennCNV identified 487 CNVs in CIN that aggregated into 86 CNVRs, and 424 CNVs in MOD that aggregated into 81 CNVRs. SVS identified a total of 207 CNVs in CIN that aggregated into 39 CNVRs, and 181 CNVs in MOD that aggregated into 41 CNVRs. The CNVRs identified with the two softwares contained 29 common CNVRs in CIN and 17 co…
Protective coloration of European vipers throughout the predation sequence
2020
Antipredator adaptations in the form of animal coloration are common and often multifunctional. European vipers (genus Vipera) have a characteristic dorsal zigzag pattern, which has been shown to serve as a warning signal to potential predators. At the same time, it has been suggested to decrease detection risk, and to cause a motion dazzle or flicker-fusion effect during movement. We tested these hypotheses by asking whether (1) the zigzag pattern decreases detection risk and (2) the detection is dependent on the base coloration (grey or brown) or the snake's posture (coiled, basking form or S-shaped, active form). Additionally, (3) we measured the fleeing speed of adders, Vipera berus, an…
Effect of Mycoplasma agalactiae mastitis on milk production and composition in Valle dell Belice dairy sheep
2019
Contagious agalactia (CA), a disease caused by Mycoplasma agalactiae and other pathogenic mycoplasmas, is a well-known multietiological syndrome affecting dairy breeds of sheep and goats in the Mediterranean basin. The aim of this work was to study the effect on milk production and composition of mastitis caused by M. agalactiae in Valle del Belice dairy sheep. All ewes were manually milked twice daily and the milk from both daily milking was analysed for milk composition and somatic cell counts. Moreover the morning milk samples were collected aseptically from each animal for bacteriological analyses. A mixed linear model was utilised to consider milk production and composition between ani…
ACKERMANS et al.
2019
One reason for the mammalian clade’s success is the evolutionary diversity of their teeth. In herbivores, this is represented by high‐crowned teeth evolved to compensate for wear caused by dietary abrasives like phytoliths and grit. Exactly how dietary abrasives wear teeth is still not understood completely. We fed four different pelleted diets of increasing abrasiveness (L: Lucerne; G: grass; GR: grass and rice husks; GRS: grass, rice husks, and sand) to four groups of a total of 28 adult goats, all with completely erupted third molars, over a six‐month period. Tooth morphology was captured by medical computed tomography scans at the beginning and end of the controlled feeding experi…
Winter male plumage coloration correlates with breeding status in a cooperative breeding species
2007
The function of colored ornaments is usually related to the signaling of individual quality in intra- and intersexual interactions. In cooperative breeding species, where only a fraction of the male population access the breeding status and the other fraction has the option to help breeding pairs, colored traits might provide the females with a reliable information on the quality of potential mate. Males of the cooperative breeding azure-winged magpies (Cyanopica cyanus) display conspicuous blue plumage coloration. Here we explored the role played by structural blue coloration of males and the probability of becoming a breeder or a helper. Birds were trapped during 4 consecutive years, and …
Feeding Dairy Ewes with Fresh or Dehydrated Sulla (Sulla coronarium L.) Forage. 1. Effects on Feed Utilization, Milk Production, and Oxidative Status
2022
Feeding dairy ewes with fresh sulla forage (FSF), a legume species containing condensed tannins (CT), has been shown to increase feed intake, milk yield, and casein and enhances the oxidative status of animals. Dehydration of FSF could be an alternative to hay-making to preserve the nutritional properties. This research aimed to compare the responses of dairy ewes fed with diets based on sulla hay (SH), pelleted dehydrated sulla forage (DSF), or FSF in terms of efficiency of feed utilization, milk production, and the balance between oxidant (reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs)) and antioxidant (biological antioxidant potential (BAP)) substances at the plasma level. Ten first-lambing (FL) and…
Habitat Determinants and Density of the Endemic Sicilian Rock Partridge Alectoris graeca whitakeri on Mt. Etna, Sicily, Italy
2022
The assessment of the conservation status of a species is the first step to prevent local extinction and to plan appropriate, effective and scientifically sound conservation actions, hence knowledge of the distribution, population trends and characteristics of preferred habitat is crucial for the conservation of a species. Galliformes are facing increasing threats related to overhunting, habitat loss and fragmentation, and human disturbance. The Sicilian Rock Partridge (hereafter Rock Partridge) Alectoris graeca whitakeri is a significant conservation unit endemic to Sicily (Italy) classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN due to a decreasing population. Few studies have been conducted on t…
Dog behaviour classification with movement sensors placed on the harness and the collar
2021
Dog owners’ understanding of the daily behaviour of their dogs may be enhanced by movement measurements that can detect repeatable dog behaviour, such as levels of daily activity and rest as well as their changes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of supervised machine learning methods utilising accelerometer and gyroscope data provided by wearable movement sensors in classification of seven typical dog activities in a semi-controlled test situation. Forty-five middle to large sized dogs participated in the study. Two sensor devices were attached to each dog, one on the back of the dog in a harness and one on the neck collar. Altogether 54 features were extracted from th…